updated 01:00 pm EDT, Tue July 8, 2008

Nikon Coolpix P6000 leak?

Information has leaked on a new Nikon Coolpix camera, dubbed the P6000, reports say. A French-language product slide appears to depict not only the camera but features marking it as a high-end compact, such as a 13.5-megapixel sensor. It is also claimed to use a version of the EXPEED image processor found in the D3 and D300, and support ISO sensitivities has high as 6400, roughly equivalent to the D300 and four times greater than the sensitivity in most competing compacts.

Other features are said to include a vibration reduction (VR) motor, and built-in GPS, allowing geotagging through View NX or myPicturetown.com. The slide further mentions RAW support under Windows, which may mean that the files can be viewed in Windows without first loading a program like View or Lightroom. An August release date is expected, though no prices are mentioned.

Why is Nikon so averse to long zoom lenses? Other compact cameras like the Panasonic DMC-TZ5 have 10x. Yet Nikon still seems to be more interested in the megapixel race and only gives 4x optical zoom. Especially with a 28mm wide angle, that means 112mm maximum telephoto. I wouldn't even call that telephoto.

Personally, I don't give a flying fig about ultra long telephoto in a compact. I'd much rather have better image quality throughout. A shorter zoom range reduces the compromises required by long zooms. High ISO capability is also very useful, as it will allow the camera to shoot without flash in dim lighting conditions. Natural light photos almost always look better than stereotypical "flashed-out" P&S photos, which makes this a MUCH better feature than long telephoto for allowing casual users to take better pictures.

But the deal breaker with the P5000/P5100 cameras was their glacial slowness -- if Nikon's fixed that, they'll be back in the game vs. the Canon G9. Extra bonus points if the P6000 can shoot RAW without major performance compromises.